San Diego itinerary 4 days: the ultimate family city escape.
This sun-soaked city is packed with endless beaches, world-famous attractions, and incredible food. Whether you’re looking to do some sightseeing, explore the iconic San Diego Zoo, indulge in delicious tacos, or soak up the sun, San Diego won’t disappoint.
We had a fantastic time in San Diego with our preschooler and baby. We loved the variety of sights the city had to offer that were entertaining for all ages. This is a great destination if you’re wanting to balance out kid-friendly attractions with sights that are fun for adults too. In this post, I’ve also included tips for families with young kids and top-rated hotels with portacots.
Looking for the ultimate San Diego itinerary? This San Diego itinerary 4 days balances adventure with relaxation, and paid activities with free options.
San Diego itinerary: In this post
- Tips for San Diego
- What area should I stay in San Diego?
- Top-rated hotels with portacots
- At a glance: San Diego itinerary 4 days
- Day 1: Downtown San Diego and Little Italy
- Day 2 Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo
- Day 3: Old Town San Diego and sea lions at La Jolla
- Day 4: Coronado Island and Cabrillo National Monument
- San Diego itinerary: Other top things to do
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How long should I spend in San Diego?
Allow 3-4 full days in San Diego, and longer if you are planning to spend full days at the major attractions like San Diego Zoo, San Diego Safari Park, and Legoland. While you could see a lot of San Diego in a long weekend, you could easily spend a week here enjoying the attractions and relaxing at the beach.
What area should I stay in San Diego?
San Diego is a sprawling city, with plenty of different areas to choose from depending on your travel preferences and budget. I’d recommend staying in the downtown area if you are only in San Diego for a short time or don’t have a rental car.
- Downtown San Diego: Best option for sightseeing and public transport or walking
- Coronado Island: Luxury beach holiday with great options for families, and a short ferry to downtown
- Mission Beach: More laid back while still being central for sightseeing
- La Jolla: Upmarket beach suburb with great eateries and shopping
- Del Mar, Encinitas and Carlsbad: Quieter coastal areas with a more relaxed atmosphere and vacation rental home options.
Top-rated hotels with portacots
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott San Diego (Downtown) Fantastic central hotel with family rooms, spectacular city and water views, and a rooftop pool.
- Paradise Point Resort & Spa (Mission Bay) Beachfront hotel with modern rooms, pools, and kid-friendly dining.
- Loews Coronado Island Resort Beachfront resort with resort vibes, an expansive pool complex, while still being close to the main attractions.
- La Jolla Shores Hotel Beachfront hotel with direct beach access, a pool, and a variety of room options.
How do I get around San Diego?
For this San Diego itinerary 4 days, hiring a car is the easiest way to get around. This is especially the case if you are travelling with young kids. A lot of the attractions are quite spread out. We found parking to be widely available, but paid parking was often the only option in busy areas.
If you prefer to use public transport:
- The San Diego Trolley is a great way to explore downtown and Old Town.
- Buses run to most major attractions, but can be slow.
- Rideshares like Uber and Lyft are widely available.
- Ferries run between Downtown San Diego and Coronado Island.
This San Diego itinerary puts nearby attractions together where possible to reduce travel times.
Tips for visiting San Diego with young kids
Here are my tips if you are visiting San Diego with young kids.
San Diego is pram friendly! Bring your travel stroller, especially for exploring downtown, Balboa Park, and San Diego Zoo.
Traffic in San Diego can be really bad at each end of the day. Be prepared for long stints in the car at times, and avoid long drives during commuter times if you can.
Pack layers! The mornings and evenings can be cool even when the days are warm. Pack wet weather options particularly if you’re travelling between December and March.
If you need a travel cot for your baby, make sure to double-check with your hotel when confirming your booking. Wherever we travel, we often find this gets missed in the initial reservation.
At a glance: San Diego itinerary 4 days
Day 1: Downtown San Diego and Little Italy (including Seaport Village, Tuna Harbor Park, and USS Midway)
Day 2 Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo (including Spanish Village, miniature train and carousel, countless museums, and beautiful gardens)
Day 3: Old Town San Diego and La Jolla (including sea lions, sea caves, coastal walks, beach time, and shopping)
Day 4: Coronado Island and Cabrillo National Monument (including pram-friendly walks, Hotel del Coronado, city views, and beach time)
San Diego itinerary: Other top things to do (including other top free and paid attractions for a long stay or to customise your itinerary)
San Diego itinerary 4 days
Day 1: Downtown San Diego
Start your first morning along the waterfront in downtown San Diego. The downtown stops are all within a flat 20-minute walk of each other. Seaport Village, the USS Midway, and the Maritime Museum all have paid parking if you prefer to drive between them.
Seaport Village
Most shops open 10am-5pm
Carousel open 10am-9pm, US$5 per rider
Seaport Village official website
Allow 1-2 hours
Start your day at Seaport Village where you can enjoy a coffee and peruse the quirky shops. There’s stuff to entertain the kids too, including a classic carousel and shops selling treats and toys. Depending how long you spend, you can also pick up lunch at one of the many eateries in the village.
USS Midway aircraft carrier and Tuna Harbor Park statue
USS Midway: 10am-5pm, adults US$39, kids $26, under 4s free
USS Midway Museum official website
Allow 2 hours
Take a 10-minute walk down the waterfront to Tuna Harbor Park and the larger-than-life navy statue (called Unconditional Surrender). Here, you can also visit the USS Midway Museum on an old aircraft carrier. The interactive exhibits and aircraft displays make it entertaining for all ages.
There are elevators and ramps to most parts of the ship, but some exhibits can only be accessed by the stairs (with pram parking available). You can easily spend a couple of hours here.
If you don’t want to go into the USS Midway, Tuna Harbor Park is still worth a visit to see the statue and see the carrier from the outside.
Lunch at Portside Pier
You’ll find plenty of meal options at Portside Pier, which is just a 10 minute walk from the USS Midway. We enjoyed tacos at Brigantine Seafood and Oyster Bar, while the kids enjoyed colouring and the view out to the ships that form the Maritime Museum.
Maritime Museum or Waterfront Park
Open 10am-5pm, adults US$24, kids $12, under 3s free
Maritime Museum official website
Allow 1-2 hours
If your kids love boats, consider a visit to the Maritime Museum! The museum is located across several ships and even a submarine! You could spend a couple of hours here too, but the tight spaces mean it isn’t pram friendly.
The neighbouring Waterfront Park playground is a great option if you’re looking for free entertainment for kids that’s outdoors too.
Dinner at Little Italy
Little Italy is the perfect place for your first dinner in San Diego, and just a 5-10 minute walk from Waterfront Park.
There are plenty of incredible restaurants here. There’s also Little Italy Food Hall, which is perfect if you’re wanting different options within the family. Mona Lisa Italian Foods has great deli sandwiches and take-out options if you need to get back to your accommodation for bedtime.
Day 2: Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo
Balboa Park
Entry to the park is free, individual park attraction tickets and hours vary
Balboa Park official website
Allow 3-4 hours to explore the park grounds, shops, and free gardens (extra time for other attractions)
The second day of this San Diego itinerary is all about Balboa Park. You can easily spend a whole day exploring the expansive park complex.
Initially built to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal, the park is now an urban oasis full of gardens, family-friendly attractions, museums, and the San Diego Zoo.
For little kids, the miniature train and carousel are bound to be a hit (only open weekends during off-peak times). Parents will enjoy a coffee and the shops in the Spanish Village Art Center next to the miniature train.
We had a lovely morning walking through the grounds and various gardens at Balboa Park. The Botanic Garden Building and California Building were particularly spectacular. We enjoyed a picnic lunch, but there are plenty of cafes and eateries if you prefer.
Balboa Park is also the place to go for arts and entertainment. The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre and Old Globe put on shows throughout the year. If visiting on a Sunday afternoon, there are free outdoor concerts at Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
You could easily spend more than a day in Balboa Park if you have more time in San Diego. I would recommend only doing 1 paid attraction per day at Balboa Park with young kids.
San Diego Zoo
Open 9am-5pm, adults US$76, children $66, under 3s free
San Diego Zoo official website
Allow 4-6 hours
Balboa Park is home to the world-famous San Diego Zoo – a must-do for many visitors to San Diego. Tickets include access to the Skyfari aerial tram and a guided bus tour, which can be a great option for little legs!
If you’re doing this San Diego itinerary with a car, there are paid parking lots throughout Balboa Park. There are also free parking options further out if you are comfortable walking.
Even paid parking options can fill up, so I’d recommend starting your day early to guarantee a park (and to make the most of all Balboa Park has to offer)!
Day 3: Old Town, La Jolla, and sea lions
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Most of the small museums are free and open 10am-5pm
Old Town San Diego State Park website
Allow 2 hours
Start your third day of this San Diego itinerary with a visit to Old Town San Diego State Park.
This was the location of the first European settlement in California, and is now a complex of small museums, shops, and eateries. You can easily explore the grounds in 1-2 hours.
We had a delicious Mexican lunch at Casa de Reyes, set in a picturesque open courtyard in the State Park.
La Jolla sea lions and neighbourhood
Allow 2-3 hours
The next stop on your San Diego itinerary is La Jolla – home to the famous sea lions and picturesque tide pools. It’s an upmarket coastal suburb, so you’ll find plenty of upmarket dining and shopping options here too.
La Jolla is only a 15 minute drive from Old Town. There are buses too which take about 45 minutes and includes some walking.
We started at La Jolla Cove, a beautiful beach that plenty of seals and sea lions call home. From there, you can walk the stroller-friendly coastal path in Ellen Browning Scripps Park. There are plenty more opportunity to spot more seals and sea lions along the way. Children’s Beach is a bit further down, and also a great spot for watching sea lions.
Be sure to exercise caution and keep a safe distance from the seals and sea lions. To protect your family and also the creatures. Parts of La Jolla, particularly Children’s Beach, may also be closed during pupping season. You can check out sea lion viewing guidelines before your visit.
If you have kids that are comfortable with stairs, consider stopping at Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave. The storefront is the entrance to a steep cave tunnel that takes you down to the beach (for a small fee).
If you’re visiting La Jolla in summer, there are plenty of good swimming options in the area, including La Jolla Shores.
Enjoy an early dinner at La Jolla. There are a variety of restaurants throughout the neighbourhood. There are several eateries with sea views along Prospect Terrace, including Duke’s.
Day 4: Coronado Island and Cabrillo National Monument
The fourth day of your San Diego itinerary is a more relaxed day. It works particularly well if you want to combine it with another paid attraction, or if you have a half day at either end of your time in San Diego.
If you want a busier day, then consider visiting some of the other sights or attractions I’ve included in the next section.
Cabrillo National Monument Park
Open: 9am-5pm US$20 per car, or $10 per person
Cabrillo National Monument Park website
Allow 1-2 hours (and extra time for tide pools or specific hikes)
Start your fourth day in San Diego with a visit and walk around Cabrillo National Monument and Point Loma Lighthouse. The National Park offers impressive views of the bay, back to the city, and over to the Naval Base on Coronado Island.
Cabrillo National Monument is about a 20 minute drive from the city. If you don’t have a hire car, consider getting a taxi or uber as public transport will take at least an hour.
We chose to do the walk to the old lighthouse and whale lookout. It was relatively flat and well formed, and took about 40 minutes including stops along the way.
The main path is pram friendly, although we used a baby carrier which allowed us to take different paths and go into the lighthouse building.
There are plenty of other walking paths that you can take depending on how long you have. The Point Loma tide pools in the park are also worth checking out if you’re there at low tide.
If you’re ready for a meal after your walk, Point Loma Seafoods is a great spot for local seafood in a casual setting.
Coronado Island
Allow 4 hours to explore both areas (ferry landing and Hotel del Coronado)
Spend the rest of your day exploring the picturesque Coronado Island. While it’s not far from downtown San Diego, it’s a world away with its small town vacation vibes and beautiful beaches.
The drive takes about 30 minutes from Cabrillo National Monument. There are also ferries between Coronado Island and downtown San Diego, making it a great option if you don’t have a hire car.
Regardless of how you get to Coronado Island, the ferry landing area is worth spending some time at. There are shops, eateries, and fantastic views back to the city. Pick up a coffee here and then walk along the coast to the San Diego Skyline Viewpoint.
Hotel del Coronado and Coronado Beach
Hotel del Coronado official website
Head over to the other side of the island to Coronado Beach. This golden-sand beach is known as one of the best beaches in California!. It is here that you can also visit the iconic Hotel del Coronado.
Known as ‘the del’, Hotel del Coronado is a national landmark and worth a visit on its own. Even if you’re not a guest, you’re able to walk around the public areas and eat at the restaurants. We enjoyed a drink and ice cream there while soaking up the hotel atmosphere and beach views.
If you’re staying on the island for dinner, head to Orange Ave for plenty of great dining options. This is the main street of Coronado Island, and home to plenty of eateries and stores.
If you’re looking for a playground, head to Coronado Tidelands Park (with views of the water and Coronado Bridge) or Spreckels Park (on Orange Ave).
San Diego itinerary: Other things to do
I’ve put together this San Diego itinerary 4 days to give you a variety of family-friendly experiences that combine paid attractions with free options.
There are so many things to do in San Diego, and you could easily spend more than 4 days here if you have the time.
- Legoland California: Located in Carlsbad, this theme park and resort is perfect for little lego lovers and features rides, play areas, and an aquarium.
- SeaWorld San Diego: Perfect for marine life enthusiasts with a range of rides as well.
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park: About 30 minutes north of San Diego, this offers safari-style wildlife experiences in a massive open setting.
- Torrey Pines State Reserve: A scenic hiking spot with family-friendly trails and stunning coastal views. We enjoyed watching the hang gliders from Torrey Pines Gliderport.
- Hop on hop off trolley bus: Enjoy the sights of the city while the kids enjoy the novelty of riding on trolley bus.
- Belmont Park: A classic amusement park with free admission – so you can pick what rides and activities you want to pay for.
- Sesame Place San Diego: A theme park for younger kids.
This wraps up your San Diego itinerary 4 days. I hope this has given you plenty of inspiration for planning your visit to San Diego with your little ones.
